South Wales tram-trains will carry passengers this year
Posted on 25th April 2025 at 15:29
The 36 class 398 Stadler Citylink tram-trains delivered to Transport for Wales will enter service later this year on the South Wales Metro network, including the line the Cardiff Bay that is due to be extended on to street-based alignments. Testing without passengers started in April with the three-section 40m cars running out of the new £100M Taff’s Well depot. They can operate on battery power on non-electrified sections. Each car can carry 252 passengers (126 seated) and operate at up to 100 km/h. There has been some local controversy as the class 398 is not fitted with a toilet, something passengers to Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert will have to get used to after enjoying class 756 toilet-equipped trains for some months..
Marie Daly, Chief Operating Officer at Transport for Wales, added: “This is another major milestone for us at TfW. We’ve already introduced our brand-new class 756 trains onto the Merthyr, Aberdare, and Treherbert lines to improve the experience for our passengers. We’re now excited to progress to the next phase of the project, testing our light rail tram-trains that will offer a turn-up-and-go service as part of the South Wales Metro.
The introduction of our new Metro Class 756s and class 398 tram-trains is part of our £800 million investment into brand-new trains for Wales, alongside a billion pounds of infrastructure upgrades to improve the frequency and accessibility of services. By transforming our rail network, we aim to provide reliable, comfortable, and attractive public transport options for our customers.”
Photo: Stadler calls 398 for South Wales Metro. (Transport for Wales)
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